Automatic key ejector



April 15, 1958 J. P. MONEST AUTOMATIC KEY EJECTOR Filed Nov. 29, 1955 /m 4 h w" m2 w w United States Patent AUTOMATIC KEY EJECTOR Joseph P. Monest, Mechanicville, N. Y.

Application November 29, 1955, Serial No. 549,610

3 Claims. (Cl. 70-388) The present invention generally relates to new and useful improvements in locks particularly for the ignition systems of automobiles although it will be understood that the key ejector of the present invention may be employed with a lock in other manners or for any purpose for which it may be found adaptable and desirable.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic key ejector that can be easily associated with conventional locks whereby a key inserted into the lock for operating the same will be automatically ejected when the lock is turned to a position in which the key may be retracted thereby eliminating the accidental loss of vehicles or other articles occurring when the key is accidentally left in the lock.

A further object of the present invention resides in the manner in which the key ejector of the present invention is associated with a lock with very little modification of the lock and in insulated relation to eliminate lany possibility of electrical energy being passed to the Another object of the present invention is to provide a key ejector which is simple in construction, easy to operate, effective, well adapted for its intended purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lock with the key ejector of the present invention incorporated therein;

Figure 2 is a front view of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the key ejector per se;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the threaded terminal together with the insulated ring for insulating'the spring from the switch unit; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified key employed in conjunction with the key ejector of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the ignition lock employing the key ejector of the present invention which is generally designated by the numeral 12 and illustrated in Figure 3.

The ignition lock 10 generally includes a cylindrical casing 14 having radially extending lugs 18 thereon together with the usual bezel ring 20 for mounting in an opening in the instrument panel of a vehicle in substantially horizontal position. A rotatable lock barrel 22 is positioned in the cylindrical casing 14 and is provided with a keyway 24 extending longitudinally therethrough for accommodating a key 26 in the usual manner wherein the key operates in the usual manner for permitting rotation of the lock barrel 22. on the rear end of the casing 14 and may be of any conventional construction normally employed in an ignition switch. The details of the switch construction are not illustrated but it is provided with an end member 30 of insulative material and also is provided with at least one longitudinally projecting externally threaded terminal post 32 having a clamp nut 34 threaded thereon for clamping the usual ignition wire for forming an electrical circuit from the wire to the terminal 32. The switch unit 28 is provided with a longitudinal bore 36 ex- (iii A switch unit 28 is formed 2,830,448 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 2 tending therethrough which is in alignment with the keyway 24 and the end of the casing 14 and the switch plates in the switch unit 28 are also provided with an opening to permit passage of an elongated ejector rod 38 which extends through the bore 36 and the keyway 24 and terminates in spaced relation to the bezel ring 20 or the outer end of the lock barrel 22. A stop projection 40 is disposed on the ejector rod 38 for engaging the end member 30 of the switch unit 28 for limiting the inward movement of the rod 38 to assure proper positioning of the end of the rod 38 in relation to the keyway 24 wherein the key 26 maybe initially positioned partially in the keyway 24 before it comes into contact with the end of the rod 38. The end of the key 26 is provided with a notch 42 on the lower outer edge thereof for locating the key 26 in relation to the ejector rod 38.

The free end of the ejector rod 38 is disposed remotely from the switch unit 28 and is connected to the longitudinally extending end 44 of a tension coil spring 46 as by welding or soldering 48. The other end of the spring 46 is provided with a laterally extending and ofiset loop 50 positioned over the terminal 32 and held in spaced relation by an annular ring of insulating material 52 having a recess on the inner end thereof designated by the numeral 54 thereby securing the loop of the spring and the rod 38 in insulated relation to the lock 10 whereby the spring 46 will urge or eject the key 26 from the keyway 24 when the switch is turned to an off position.

'The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An automatic key ejector for a lock comprising a fixed cylinder, a lock barrel rotatable in said cylinder and including a keyway therein, a switch unit mounted on the cylinder with a longitudinally extending screw threaded terminal remote from the lock barrel, said switch unit having a passageway in registry with the keyway, an elongated ejector rod slidably disposed in said passageway and keyway with one end projecting outwardly beyond the terminal, a stop on said rod for engagement with the switch unit for limiting the movement of the rod into the keyway for positioning the other end of the rod in spaced relation to the end of the keyway, and spring means interconnecting said terminal and said rod for urging said rod inwardly for urging a key disposed in the keyway outwardly of the lock barrel.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring means includes a tension coil spring having one end thereof secured to the free end of said rod, said spring having a loop at the other end thereof, and means mounting the loop on said terminal in insulated relation.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said loop mounting means includes an annular ring of insulative material, said ring having a peripheral recess in the inner end thereof for receiving the loop and retaining the loop between the ring and the end of the switch unit with the end of the switch unit being insulated thereby completely insulating the loop from the terminal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,917,778 Smith July 11, 1933 2,641,920 Gill et a1. June 16, 1953 2,655,569 St. John Oct. 3, 1953 

